The craft of making sculptures using different metals dates back thousands of years. Since the earliest of civilizations, metals have been melted, cast and shaped in moulds to create statues. But the level of intricacy and detailing achieved can vary significantly, depending on the process of casting. The lost wax casting technique was invented to create the finest level of detail in sculpting. It is a method of metal casting, in which hot metal is poured into a wax model, which is ‘lost’ during the process. Taking its name from the French term “cire perdue”, the lost wax casting technique originated more than 5,000 years ago. Even today, highly detailed, one-of-a-kind sculptures are made around the world using this technique.
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The History of Lost Wax Sculptures in India
In the olden days, castings in India were often made in pure copper, but bronze (an alloy consisting of copper and other metals) quickly became the preferred material for statuary, as it is stronger and more tensile. The iconic “Dancing Girl” bronze sculpture, made in 2500 BCE in Mohenjo-daro, is one of the earliest known Indian sculptures created using the lost wax technique.
The Dancing GirlAlthough bronze casting has a long history in India, mastery of this technique scaled new heights of excellence during the rule of the Chola dynasty, one of the longest ruling dynasties in the history of Southern India (c. 850 CE — 1250 CE). In the Chola period, bronze sculptures of religious Hindu deities were created as movable alternatives to the immovable stone sculptures in the inner sanctum, as they could be carried outside the temple for daily rituals, processions, and temple festivals. Nataraja is one of the most common subjects depicted in Chola bronzes.
Chola Bronze of Nataraja, circa 950–1000 CETill date, original ‘Chola bronzes’ are highly valued and admired not just in India, but around the world. Many sculptures made in South India even today, take inspiration from the distinctive Chola style.
Chola Bronzes of Shiva and Parvati (Sivagami), 1012 CEA Step by Step Guide to the Lost Wax Technique of Casting
Exquisite and highly-detailed, the finest lost wax sculptures take several weeks or months to make. Given the difficulty of the technique and the time-consuming process of creating these pieces, high quality lost wax sculptures are increasingly difficult to find. The elaborate and complex lost wax technique of metal casting is divided into many stages.
First, a well-detailed solid wax model of the figure is created.
Then, a clay mould is made around the wax model. This is heated, thus melting or ‘losing’ the wax.
Molten bronze (or any other metal) is then poured into the empty clay mould. Upon cooling, the clay is broken to reveal a solid bronze statue.
The sculpture is then filed and buffed to remove scratches and give it a shine.
Handcrafted by skilled artisans, each sculpture made using the lost wax technique is unique, as the mould must be broken to reveal the final piece. And the beauty of lost wax sculptures lies as much in their details, as it does in the fact that they are truly one-of-a-kind.
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Calken Gallery is home to the beautiful and intricate sculpture of Michael James Talbot. Michael is a leading figure in the modern art world and his endless fascination with bronze sculpture casting using the Lost Wax Process, has led him to be one of the UK’s best recognised artists in this field.
‘Ophelia‘ by Michael James TalbotBronze has been one of the most popular mediums for sculpture for many centuries, due to it’s durability and the fact that bronze retains its value within the art world. There are many techniques and methods used to cast bronze works, but the ancient method of ‘Lost Wax Casting’ has become widespread over the centuries, first dating back to c. 3700 BCE. Bronze castings that are over 5000 years old still remain to this day.
One of the foundries that Michael favours for their expertise in casting the intricate detail in his sculptures is Artworks in Berkeley CA.
Below is their description of casting bronze sculpture, using the lost wax process.
The “Lost Wax” is the process by which a metal sculpture is cast from an artist’s original sculpture. This ancient method has being used since the third millenium B.C. and has withstood the centuries, visually telling the tale of past cultures, their religion and their social structures. The “Lost Wax” term derives from the wax replica that is melted out of the investment created, thus it is “lost” to receive the bronze.
Yet today, bronze casting is essentially the same as it was in the past and today, and the modern sculptors who want their pieces cast in bronze depend upon a foundry. Here, artisans skillfully apply the “Lost Wax” method to wood, stone, clay, plaster or any other kind of sculpture to transform it into bronze. The following steps describe the whole process:
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THE RUBBER MOLD
The metamorphosis of a sculpture from the original medium into bronze begins with a rubber mold. Half of the sculpture is nestled into a base of soft plasticine clay, the other exposed half is painted evenly with a clear, viscous rubber (Polyurethane). When the half painted with rubber dries, a protective and rock hard “mother mold” made of reinforced plaster is built around the pliable rubber. The sculpture is then turned over, and the process repeated. When the second side is complete, the mold is opened and the original removed from within. The rubber is rejoined with the other half, rendering an exact “negative” image of the sculpture in rubber.
THE WAX POSITIVE
The original sculpture is now used exclusively as a reference point. From the “negative” rubber mold, a wax “positive” is created. Wax is melted to about 210°F, poured into the mold and evenly coated or “slushed” inside. Slushing is repeated three times using cooler wax each time to avoid melting the previous coat. An exact wax thickness has to be poured, any less might create flow problems for the bronze; any more will result in a heavier than necessary sculpture. When the mold is opened and the rubber peeled away, an almost perfect wax reproduction is removed.
WAX CHASING – SPRUING & GATING
“Wax chasing” is the delicate process of joining the wax pieces, removing seams and repairing imperfections with heated customized soldering irons or tools – dental tools are ideal. Artists are encouraged to visit the foundry at this point to sign and check the integrity of the wax.
After the wax is chased and approved by the artist, the piece is then advanced to “Spruing” or “Gating.” The gates and sprues are also made of wax. They form the channels through which the melted bronze will travel to the artwork.
“Vents” (thin wax sticks) and “Gates” (thicker wax sticks) are affixed to the wax reproduction with heated tools. Later in the casting process, the space occupied by sprues or gates become runways through which the metal flows and trapped gas escapes.
INVESTING
“Investment” is the process of building a rock-hard shell around the wax sculpture. Later, when the wax has been melted out, the investment will serve as a mold for the molten bronze. The technology used for that is called ceramic shell and it begins by dipping the gated wax into vats of slurry followed immediately by a bath of sand. This process builds a very thin wall of silica around the wax. When repeated approximately 9 times, allowing for dry times in between dips, a hard shell about ½” thick forms around the wax.
The wax inside the ceramic shell is a “positive” which must disappear in order to create a cavity or “negative” for the bronze to fill. Thus, the shells are “de-waxed” in a high pressure steam chamber known as an autoclave; plaster invested shells are de-waxed in a kiln.
THE POUR
A huge graphite crucible, fired by a furnace, is filled with bronze ingots that are melted. The metal begins to melt at 1700°F. Bronze “seizes” (stops flowing) when confronted with cold, which might occur if molten bronze was poured into a room temperature shell; therefore at the same time the bronze is being blasted by a natural gas furnace, the ceramic shell is heated in a kiln to approximately 1100°F.
When the “Dance of the Pour” begins, the crucible is lifted by a crane out of the gas furnace. At the same time, the glowing ceramic shells are brought out of the kiln to the pour area. Two artisans operate the crane which holds the crucible in a “jacket.” The artisan with the controls is the “lead pour,” the artisan maintaining the crucible balance is known as the “deadman.” A third member of the pour team pushes away dross and slag on the surface of the molten bronze. The entire pour is very fast and very precise.
DEVESTING
“Devesting” is the process during which the investment is removed from the metal. Approximately one hour after the pour, the piece is cool enough to handle. Skill and strength are combined with hammers and power chisels to knock the investment off the freshly solidified metal. The gates and sprues must also be removed with a high intensity electric arc that can cut through the bronze like butter. The final step is to sandblast the fine investment from the bronze. When clean, the sculpture advances to the metal shop…
METAL CHASING & FINISHING
Like wax chasing, bronze must also be chased or cleaned to address the slight imperfections that may result from the casting or shell building process. On larger sculptures, where assembly of cast sections is required, chasing is essential to take down weld line formed by the joining of two planes.
Metal chasing usually starts with large electric or pneumatic grinders to remove the bulk of the unwanted metal. Then, more refined and smaller tools such as die and pencil grinders are used to re-create the artist’s subtle surface texture.
Much as a house needs a wood frame to stand, many monumental bronzes require a stainless steel internal structure to support the bronze “skin.” Most larger than life-size bronzes are analyzed by a structural engineer who recommends a support structure that can withstand earthquakes and high winds.
PATINA
Patination is enhancement of bronze by the chemical application of colour.
Each foundry develops its own proprietary (and carefully guarded) patinas that result from a carefully orchestrated blend of different chemicals, pigments and application technique. A wide range of colours, both transparent and opaque are available to the experienced patineur. The final step is putting a thin coat of clear wax over the bronze to enhance and preserve the patina.
To view some of the sculpture we have for sale at Calken Gallery, please visit our sculpture page.
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